Northern Kentucky Nursing Program Ranks No. 2 in State
RegisteredNursing ranked Northern Kentucky University's bachelor of nursing science program second in Kentucky, behind Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Nursing Jobs
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Northern Kentucky University's bachelor of nursing science program was ranked No. 2 in Kentucky by RegisteredNursing, a national consortium of registered nurses. Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College was ranked No. 1 in the state.
Why it matters
The annual rankings evaluate nursing programs on quality education, student outcomes and excellence in nursing, giving prospective students a comparative measure across Kentucky schools. The ranking also highlights the state's pipeline of trained nurses as demand for healthcare workers continues.
RegisteredNursing ranked Northern Kentucky University No. 2 among Kentucky nursing programs, with the source not disclosing the total number of programs evaluated. The ranking does not detail the specific metrics used to weight outcomes across schools.
The players
RegisteredNursing
RegisteredNursing is a national consortium of registered nurses that publishes annual rankings of nursing programs and has recognized outstanding programs nationwide for more than a decade.
Northern Kentucky University
Northern Kentucky University is a public university in Highland Heights, Kentucky, whose bachelor of nursing science program was ranked second in the state.
Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College
Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College is a public two-year college in Kentucky whose nursing program was ranked first in the state.
St. Elizabeth Healthcare
St. Elizabeth Healthcare is a hospital system based in Northern Kentucky that offers tuition coverage to eligible nursing students in exchange for post-graduation employment commitments.
The details
RegisteredNursing, which has recognized outstanding nursing programs nationwide for more than a decade, published the Kentucky rankings on November 5, 2026. Separately, St. Elizabeth Healthcare can cover up to two years of tuition for eligible juniors and seniors who commit to working at the hospital system after graduation.
Timeline
November 5, 2026: RegisteredNursing published the Kentucky nursing program ranking naming Northern Kentucky University No. 2.
Season Trajectory
RegisteredNursing's annual national rankings, which it has published for more than a decade, now place Kentucky's top programs in a state-level comparison. The results extend that series to show how Northern Kentucky University stands against Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College.
Kentucky students weighing nursing degrees can compare Northern Kentucky University and Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College rankings when choosing programs. Eligible juniors and seniors may receive up to two years of tuition covered by St. Elizabeth Healthcare if they commit to working there after graduation.
The takeaway
Prospective nursing students in Kentucky should compare program rankings alongside hospital tuition offers, since employer-sponsored coverage can significantly reduce the cost of a degree. Reviewing both ranking data and post-graduation work commitments helps clarify the true cost of each option.
Further reading
Explore more on Nursing Jobs to see how these programs connect to hiring in the state.
Source note: This article includes information reported by LINK nky.
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